Director Shawn Levy’s bloody cinematic love letter to Marvel Comics’ Homo superior species moves from its more than $1 billion box office theatrical release to ultra-high definition home entertainment rooms in Deadpool and Wolverine: Cinematic Universe Edition (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, rated R, 128 minutes, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, $49.99).
Let’s be serious, after the amount of coin this little gem made, who cares what I think about a film rife with multiple variant timeline-traveling shenanigans by a pair of legendary heroes and enough extreme action to cause migraines and mild digestive distress.
Here are my plebeian thoughts anyway.
The story picks up as Deadpool aka Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds in epic linguistic form) gets turned down to join the Avengers after visiting Earth-616 (aka part of the Sacred Timeline), breaking dimensional protocol to do so.
Despondent, his life now on Earth-10005 seems pointless as he breaks up with his caring girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and ends up working as a used car salesman wearing a bad wig stapled to his head.
The Time Variance Authority (TVA) police pop up during his birthday party and take him to TVA agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) where he is offered a new life on Earth-616. Apparently, his timeline on Earth-10005 is being wiped quickly due to death of its anchor being, the Wolverine (Hugh Jackman back and in fine physical and acting form).
Deadpool declines the offer, and his only chance to save his own timeline and friends is to find and resurrect the Wolverine that sacrificed himself.
Our red-suited hero fails and eventually has to settle for the “worst Wolverine.” Mr. Paradox does not approve of the plan, and the pair get banished to the Void (a place at the end of time ruled by a monstrous beast and propagated with superpowered outcasts). They must fight their way out to complete Deadpool’s mission to save his pals and true love.
Being gobsmacked occasionally has occurred over my long span of reviewing home entertainment releases and while watching this movie, I was thoroughly smacked and had my mouth open and drooling nearly throughout.
Especially pivotal to my extreme enjoyment was Deadpool’s visits to various timelines to find his ultimate Wolverine.
The memories of reading comic books gushed forth watching the recreation of sequential art specifics, such as the wild hair and amputated hand Wolverine from the “Age of Apocalypse” storyline from 1995; the brown and tan-suited Wolvie from legendary creator John Byrne’s run of Uncanny X-Men back in 1980s; the white tuxedo and eyepatch-wearing hero seen prominently on the cover of Wolverine No. 8 from 1988; the homage to Wolverine’s crucifixion scene from Uncanny X-Men No. 251; and a look at the heavily grizzled Old Man Logan from writer Mark Millar’s 2008 storyline.
Of course, and most satisfying in this movie, Wolverine also wears the classic blue-and-yellow outfit from his days of fighting the Hulk (Incredible Hulk No. 181) and his other John Byrne look in the early appearance from Giant Size X-Men No. 1 in 1975.
Now add equally good stuff such as the onscreen chemistry between Mr. Jackman and Mr. Reynolds, the awesome appearance of former cinematic heroes such as Elektra, Blade and Johnny Storm, and Deadpool’s constant breaking of the fourth wall as he amusingly talks to the theater audience.
Ultimately, “Deadpool and Wolverine” gives fans big laughs, excessive violence and just a pinch of the offensive (especially to Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox) in an extreme action masterpiece that does not disappoint.
4K in action: An opening scene sets the tone for the jaw-dropping visual presentation with a battle in which Wolverine’s skeletal remains (etched with names of the cast and crew) fly around the screen and kill TVA agents. Deadpool eventually dons adamantium claws and, poised to strike, stands in front of a three-dimensional title of the film.
Those moments clearly and richly define the color and crisp beauty of UHD imagery that nearly bursts from home theater screens.
The eye-popping party never stops with a movie shot with Arri Alexas digital cameras and finished in 4K that flawlessly blends computer-generated and practical landscapes and effects together for a completely immersive experience.
Just a few of the required image examinations include: Wolverine’s grizzled face; the shiny and textured costuming; evil Cassandra Nova poking her fingers through human heads to read their minds; and worst Wolverine and Deadpool fighting an army of Deadpool variants in one long shot that will absolutely require fans to freeze frame and methodically explore the death of each one.
Best extras: By far, the best of the digital goodies is an optional commentary track with Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Levy as they dissect their collaborative epic, never afraid to dive into the minutiae.
Mr. Levy talks so fast and enthusiastically that often you can hear him running out of breath, but his buddy is always there to verbally tip in the analysis.
The pair discuss Mr. Reynold’s favorite song playlist called Loganpool that gets matched to film scenes, the importance of shooting in real locations and on practical sets, the new Deadpool costume, the reason a Honda Odyssey is featured, some Marvel Easter Eggs, but they refuse to explain why Thor is crying (claiming intentionality after the fact).
The remaining extras offer 30-minutes’ worth of featurettes covering the work of production designer Raymond Chan; a deeper look at creating the army of Deadpools scene; bringing back Wolverine; and an overview of the legacy heroes that appeared, as dissected by the crew and discussed by the actors who portrayed them.
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